Need imput to make this decision please

Stock up on laxatives, fleet enemas, stool softeners,  suppositories and fiber supplements. 

You will not lose too much weight.  Print this post out and read it when you are struggling to lose that last ten pounds.

Read it again in year three when bounce back regain happens. 

Surgery is just a tool.  Weight loss is from eating less.  Your ability to overeat will return.  You will have to watch what you eat to get to and stay at your goal. 

You will look and feel so much better without the 75 pounds.

thank you

I don't think you're going to find many anti-bariatric surgery advocates here. We've all had it done, on the schedule to get it done or working toward a surgery date. Would I have had surgery when I weighed in my 170's? That's a resounding NO, but every year, I packed on a few more pounds, put my joints through hell, was put on hypertension meds, reflux meds, developed sleep apnea, became pre diabetic and the list goes on. The chances of you losing say 50lbs and keeping it off life-long are slim to none; probably less than 5%. Do this now and grab the bull by the horns. You are not alone and if your surgeon thought you were too high risk, you'd not be on his schedule. Best wishes on your decision. 

That's what I needed to hear I guess.

thank you

Like Deanna I have diverticulitis too and have issues since I was a teenager. I've had no problems since my RNY 4 years ago because I am proactive. I take a probiotic,benefiber and colace stool softener every day. If I don't go for several days I will use a laxative. I just stay on top of it and make sure things are moving through well. I had diabetes,high cholesterol and triglycerides and uncontrolled high blood pressure before my surgery 4 years ago. I weighed 273 pounds and had constant knee and back pain. I wore a tight size 28 clothes and had no energy to even do my house work. I have rheumatoid arthritis which was further exacerbated by my weight. For the last three years I have weighed 118 to 123 which is a normal bmi for my height. I no longer have out of control blood sugars,triglycerides and high cholesterol. My blood pressure is good now on one low dose pill and my RA is hardly noticeable at all. I had contemplated surgery for several years but it took losing both my parents at young ages to complications of diabetes to push me to make the change. I wasted so much time and missed so much of my children's lives because of my weight and I wish I could get those miserable years back. But all I can do now is to be healthy for the years to come. Don't worry about getting too low as most people will have some regain between the second and third year and some never even get to their goal. I guess what I'm trying to say is that for me this was the best decision ever and for the first time in my life I was able to lose the weight and with the help of my new smaller pouch to keep it off. Problems like constipation are easily handled and having a new active and healthy life is worth all the work. Only you know if you are mentally ready to make a drastic change,but I was more scared of complications of diabetes than of the surgery. And for me it was worth it. Before and after pics.

Thank you Karen

I'm pre-op too, and I totally understand where you're coming from.  From what I've read, very very few people end up losing more than they want to. But this is a decision only you can make.  Is it possible that you can delay it for 3 months? See how much weight you lose and how well you are doing with maintaining- you will know if it's something you can sustain- but maybe you already know the answer. It's okay to be scared, but don't let it hold you back from the life you want to have.

Thank you for your response.  I'm back in, there are enough good reasons listed here to calm my fears.  Thank you all

Karen; I am pre op too! Scheduled for mid October. Just like you, I have gone back and forth and am still terrified to this day. I am worried about losing too much weight as well (currently I am 194 and 5'2"). However, all I can thin of was that my mother died when she was 61, 11 years older than I am now, of cardiovascular complications. It looks as though I am heading in that very direction. I am pre-diabetic and now have high cholesterol. I snore terribly and my joints are angry. So when I remind myself that there is still so much life left to live, I quickly revert back to my optimistic "let's do it" plan. Of course, I do not have the bowel issues you have described but I imagine your surgeon is well aware of these potential issues and will guide you every step of the way. WE CAN DO THIS!!! The benefits will outweigh the risks.

Good Luck, keep us all posted.

Mandy

I know I was scared going into this... there is that great unknown on the other side.... I agree with Karen you need to be proactive with making sure your system is moving... for me it is miralax everyday in my morning coffee... I tried different stool softeners, laxatives, suppositories etc, but this gives me the most stable movement without side effects. You will have to figure out what works for your body. I also have taken probiotics from day 1.

You will not lose too much weight. As time goes on you can eat more. You will be more worried about regain in a few years rather than being too thin...